Leisure Complex Recognised for approach to food waste

B&M Waste Services is delighted to confirm that their customer, The Gate leisure complex in Newcastle, has been awarded a Green Apple Environment Award for their new food waste strategy, which saw a 315% increase in food waste being recycled from October 2018 to April 2019. The food waste goes to an Anaerobic Digestion plant where the food waste is treated. The food waste is broken down during the process resulting in a bio-gas of methane which is then put directly back in to the gas board. The left over digestate is then used as a rich fertiliser.

Working in partnership, the two green-minded businesses created an engagement programme to encourage the general managers running the leisure outlets at the complex as well as all employees and site operatives to better segregate their food waste. The campaign resulted in seven tonnes of food waste each month being recycled, removing it from the general waste stream and moving it up the waste hierarchy.

The Gate leisure complex is Newcastle’s premier leisure destination incorporating leading restaurants, a 16 screen cinema, casino and escape room. They will receive their Green Apple Award for environmental best practice at a presentation ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in November.

The Green Apple Environment Awards were established by the Green Organisation in 1994 as an annual campaign to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world.

Wendy Mitchell National Sales Manager at B&M Waste Services, said:

“We are thrilled to see that The Gate leisure complex have been rewarded for their fantastic recycling efforts with this Green Apple Award. It has been a pleasure to work with Stephen Little and the team and we look forward to supporting them in their drive to make further efficiencies in the future.”

Stephen Little, Operations Manager from The Gate added:

“This award would not have been possible without the tireless work of all the facilities staff at the centre working alongside the valued general managers running the leisure outlets and waste partner B&M Waste Services. Maximising food waste recycling is something that we are very passionate about and we’re pleased that the food that is thrown away across the centre is used to generate maximum energy via anaerobic digestion.”